Coronavirus: Hong Kong experts say newly detected old infections ‘shouldn’t count’ towards city’s main Covid-19 tally

Dr Leung Chi-chiu says he believes two recently discovered infections are old transmissions, and should be classified separately to help city reopen borders

Hong Kong confirmed one new Covid-19 case on Monday

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The infection of a 46-year-old domestic helper forced the overnight lockdown of Island Harbourview Tower 6 in Tai Kok Tsui. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 1:30pm, 24 May 2021Updated: 1:05am, 25 May 2021

Previous Covid-19 infections that still produce positive readings for the coronavirus should be recorded separately from newly transmitted ones as a way of boosting Hong Kong’s prospects for reopening borders, according to infectious disease experts.

Hong Kong recently achieved more than a week without untraceable infections in the community. But that run was broken when a 39-year-old helper from Indonesia was confirmed as infected on Sunday. Previously, the city had enjoyed a 21-day unbroken streak of zero untraceable cases.

The number of untraceable infections is being closely watched, not least because the government has repeatedly said a deal to relaunch quarantine-free travel with mainland China depends on achieving zero cases for a minimum of 14 days, equivalent to the virus’ incubation period.

Dr Leung Chi-chiu, a respiratory medicine specialist, on Monday suggested that two recently discovered infections involving domestic helpers, who he believed contracted the coronavirus some time ago, should not be included in the city’s overall case tally.

One of those infections – involving a 46-year-old helper – triggered an overnight lockdown and testing operation starting on Sunday at Island Harbourview Tower 6 in Tai Kok Tsui, but no cases were discovered among its 760 or so residents.

The helper became the only confirmed case on Monday, bringing the city’s tally to 11,833, with 210 related deaths.